Clockless parking meter provided with coin view windows and key actuated release of coin to coin box



1951 L. G. WILKIN ET AL 7 82 CLOCKLESS PARKING METER PROVIDED WITH COIN VIEW WINDOWS AND KEY ACTUATED RELEASE OF COIN TO COIN BOX Filed Aug. 18, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TORS.

LEW/5 G. W/LK/N y RICHARD SP/LLER f 1951 1.. G. WlLKlN ET AL 2, 71,082

CLOCKLESS PARKING METER PROVIDED WITH COIN VIEW WINDOWS AND KEY ACTUATED RELEASE OF COIN TO COIN BOX Filed Aug. 18, 1949 2 SheetsSheet 2 4 /8 25 6 5/ VA! x k INVENTORS. :E lg. LEW/5 G. VVILK/N By RICHARD F SP/LLER Patented Oct. 9, 1951 CLOCKLESS PARKING PROVIDED WITH COIN VIEW WINDOWS AND KEY ACTUATED RELEASE OF COIN TO COIN BOX Lewis G. Wilkin, Pleasant Ridge, Cincinnati, and Richard F. Spiller, Urbana, Ohio; said Spiller assignor to said Wilkin Application August 18, 1949, Serial No. 111,042

This invention relates to parking meters and more particularly to meters for parking lots where the arrangement of the lot is such that a customer may personally park his car and lock it.

The meter embodying this invention is designed primarily to receive coins of various denominations, such as dimes, quarters and half dollars, deposited in the meter by the customer. The construction of the meter is such that the coins are held in a position where they can be viewed by the parking lot attendant, until released by him into the coin receptacle.

Parking lots provided with such meters will have one or more attendants who issue a ticket to the customer showing the time of day, by hour V and minute, when the car was parked. An amount of money in coin is deposited in the meter corresponding to the posted parking rate and the length of time the customer expects to park the car. The coin or coins deposited remain in view until the attendant releases the coins and marks the parking card with both time in and the amount of money deposited with the meter. When the customer is ready to leave, the attendant determines the total time the car was parked from the time shown on the card and the time of day when the customer is ready to leave. If the total parking charge is greater than the sum represented by the coins initially deposited in the meter the attendant informs the customer of the extra charge who then deposits in the meter coins corresponding in amount to the extra charge. The coins so deposited are released into a coin box by the attendant who clears the meter for the next customer.

An object of this invention is to provide a meter adapted for parking lots of the type referred to above that shall be simple in construction, theft-proof, and economical to install and maintain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a meter which comprises essentially a panel having at the bottom thereof a coin receptacle and on its face one or more channels or coin slots which are closed by a hinged cover having a transparent section disposed over the slotted face and provided with a ledge normally located under the slots to retain coins, the lid being actuatable by a lock-controlled cam to or from coin release positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a meter of the type referred to above in which the panel may be provided with coin slots on its opposite faces, each face being provided with a '7 Claims. (Cl. 23211) hinged cover and lock-controlled cam for actuating the covers to or from coin release positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an assembly of a panel, coin box and lock-controlled cam actuated covers for the opposite faces of the coin-slotted panel, that embodies few parts and which are easy to make and assemble.

The above and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the opposite faces of a dual parking lot meter embodying a form of the invention, parts of the coin receptacle and support post being in section;

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken on line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the meter;

Fig. 4 is a View in section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view in section taken on line V-V of Fig. 4 showing a cam in elevation in relation to the coin panel covers on the opposite faces of the meter; and

Figs. 6 and '7 are views showing to enlarged scale, the cam and interlocking lugs on the coin panel covers.

Throughout the drawings and the specification like reference characters indicate like parts.

In the drawings a parking lot meter I is illustrated in what now appears to be a preferred form of the invention. The invention may be embodied in a single face meter or in a double face or duplex meter. For purposes of illustration the double face or duplex meter is illustrated.

Meter I comprises a panel 2 on the opposite sides or faces of which are covers 3 and 4 supported at their upper ends on hinge pins 5 and 6, respectively, that are journaled in panel 2 at opposite sides thereof and a coin receptacle 1 at the lower end of the panel. At the bottom of the coin receptacle is a tubular boss 8 adapted to be received in the open upper end of a post or stand 9 on which the meter is supported at an appropriate place in the parking lot. The post may be provided with a bridge piece [0 welded or otherwise secured to the inner wall of the post and a bolt l l the head of which is secured to the underside of the bridge piece. The threaded end of the bolt extends upwardly through the bottom of boss 8 on which end a nut I2 is threaded to secure the meter on the post. The means provided for mounting the meter on and securing it to the post may be modified as conditions or choice dictate.

As shown, panel 2 is provided on its opposite faces with pairs of spaced vertically extending ribs l3l3 and l4l4 which form coin slots or channels I6, I! and I8, respectively. These slots open outwardly and extend from a location near the upper end of the panel to the lower end thereof. Panel covers 3 and 4, when in coin-retaining position, lie against the outermost faces of the coin slot ribs as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The lower ends of the panel covers 3 and 4 are provided with inwardly projecting flanges or ledges I9 and 23, respectively. These flanges block the passage of coins from the coin slots to the coin receptacle so long as covers 3 and 4 occupy the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 4. When these covers are swung outwardly from the panel, flanges l9 and 20 clear the lower ends of the coin slots and allow the coins in them to drop into the coin receptacle.

As Figs. 2 and 4 show, the opposite edges of panel 2 are provided with border flanges 22 and 23 that merge with the cap or top 24 thereof. Thus, when the panel covers 3 and 4 hang vertically as shown in Fig. 2, the outermost surfaces of the covers are flush with the border flanges whereby the covers are protected against being pried open in an unauthorized manner.

The panel covers are provided with vertical openings 25, 26 and 21 so spaced as to register with the respective coin slots (8 to [8. On the inside face of each cover, a transparent plate 28 is placed to close openings 25 to 21 inclusive. 'Ihese plates lie flush against the coin-slot ribs on panel 2 when the covers are in the position shown by Figs. 2 and 4. Each plate 28 may be fitted within a recess on the inside face of its cover and be cemented or otherwise suitably secured thereto. Plates 28 may be of plastic of the type known as Plexiglas for example. In the respective covers and above the coin-slot windows 25 to 27, coin openings 29, 30 and 3| are formed. These openings, as well as the width of the slots with which they register, are made of a size to receive coins of different denominations, such as nickels, dimes and quarters.

In order that the coins may be visible from either face of the meter, relatively narrow vertical slits 32 may be formed in the middle portion of each coin slot wall. The coin slots on the opposite faces of the meter may be arranged from left to right to correspond with the ascending values of the coins, as for example, nickels, dimes, quarters. When so arranged the nickel slot on one face will be opposite the quarter slot on the opposite face. However, the coin slots in the opposite faces may be arranged so that corresponding coin denominations are opposite each other.

The coin slot or panel covers 3 and 4 are actuate-d to and from coin release position by means of a cam 33 actuated by a key lock 34 details of which are illustrated in Figs. 4 to '7 inclusive. The lock and cam as shown, are mounted in one side or edge of panel 2 at a location. above the coin receptacle 1. An opening is formed in the edge of the panel in which look 34 may be mounted and secured. The lock may be a tumbler lock of the Yale type, for example, having a cylinder which can be turned by a key. Cam 33 is secured to the end of the cylinder which is provided with a rectangular projection or tongue 35 that extends through a correspondingly shaped opening in the center of the cam. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the adjacent edges of covers 3 and 4 are contoured as at 36 to accommodate the cam. On the inside faces of covers 3 and 4 are lugs 3'! and 38, respectively, that project towards the face of cam 33. These lugs are spaced from the contoured surfaces 38 on the covers to accommodate a peripheral flange 39 on the cam. By means of flange 39 and lugs 3'! and 38, covers 3 and 4 are interlocked with the cam so that the covers can not be actuated to coin release position by means other than a proper key inserted in the lock.

Cam 33, as shown, is symmetrically oval and When in the position shown in Fig. 5. that is with its major axis in a vertical position, covers 3 and 4 are in coin holding position. When the cam is turned either clockwise or counterclockwise by turning the lock with a key, the covers are swung outwardly until ledges or flanges l9 and 20 clear the coins and allow them to drop into the receptacle.

In nearly all coin receiving apparatus there are times when coins jam in the coin slots for one reason or another. To provide for clearing a coin jam, cam flange 39 is provided with escape slot 48. If a coin jam occurs, cam 33 is turned past the coin release position to a point where one or the other of lugs 31 and 38 registers with and can pass through the escape slot 45 whereby the cover whose lug registers with slot 4:) may be opened wide to release the jammed coins and discharge them into the coin receptacle.

The coin slot covers 3 and 4 may be yieldingly urged to coin holding position by means of strands 4| of spring steel wire, such as piano wire, stretched across the lower ends of the covers. These wires may be placed in grooves 42 in the covers as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

Coin receptacle 1 is preferably made in two parts designated by numerals 43 and 44, respectively. Part 43 is integral with panel 2 and boss 8. Part 44 includes a coin box 45. The outer end wall 46 of the coin box conforms in contour with the contour of part 43 as is evident in Figs. 2 and 4. As shown in Fig. 4, the coin receptacle '1 is somewhat oval in plan view and when part 44 is in place the two parts meet at a parting line. Part 44 is provided with a lock 41 having an arm 48 inside the box that is movable in a slot 49 in the bottom of the coin box. When arm 48 is in locked position, the free end thereof abuts the adjacent inside wall of box 8 so that that coin box can not be opened. The coin box key may be different from the key used in look 34 so that only a particular person may have access to the coin box.

To protect the coin box against unauthorized opening thereof, the inner wall of part 43 may be provided with a lug 50 that registers with an opening 5| in the inner end wall of the coin box.

Having illustrated and described what now appears to be a preferred form of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from either the spirit or the scope of the invention. Therefore, what we claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A parking lot meter comprising a body having a vertically disposed panel and a coin receptacle at the bottom thereof, said panel having on a face thereof a vertically disposed coin slot open at the front thereof, and a cover disposed to lie flatwise against the slotted face of said panel to close the slot when in normal position, said cover being hinged at its upper end on said panel and having an aperture adjacent the top of said slot through which a coin may be inserted into said slot, said cover also having a ledge at its lower end disposed to underlie said coin slot and support coin therein when in said normal position, said cover having a window that is coextensive with the coin slot through which coins in the slot may be viewed,a rotatable cam disposed in an edge of said panel, said cam engaging said cover and being shaped to swing said cover away from said panel and the ledge thereof from under said coin slot to discharge coins into said receptacle, and a key actuated lock for turning said cam.

2. A parking lot meter according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that said cover is provided with means yieldingly urging it towards said panel.

3. A parking lot meter according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that said panel is provided with a coin slot on its opposite faces and that said panel is provided on each face thereof with a cover as defined in claim 1, and that said cam is disposed to actuate each of said covers to coin-retaining and coin-releasing positions, respectively, in response to turning of said lock with a key.

4. A parking lot meter according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that said panel is provided on said face with a plurality of vertically disposed coin slots for coins of different size.

5. A parking lot meter according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that said panel is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed coin slots on its opposite faces for coins of different size, and that said panel is provided on each face thereof with a cover as defined in claim 1, and

that said cam is disposed to actuate each of said covers in response to turning of said lock with a key, to coin-retaining and coin-release positions, respectively.

6. A parking lot meter according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that said cover and cam are provided with an interlocking lug and flange, respectively, to lock said cover to said cam and limit movement thereof in the coin release direction, said cam being provided with an escape slot through which the lug on said cover can pass when the cam is turned past coin-release position whereby said cover may be released from said cam and opened wide to effect removal of jammed coins.

7. A parking lot meter according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that said covers and cam are provided with interlocking lugs and a flange, respectively, to lock, said covers to said cam and limit movement thereof in the coin release direction, said cam flange being provided with escape slots through which the lugs on said cover can pass when the cam is turned past coinrelease position whereby said covers may be released from said cam and opened wide to effect removal of jammed coins.

LEWIS G. WILKIN. RICHARD F. SPILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 636,135 Gray Got. 31, 1899 744,724 Cutler Nov. 24, 1903 1,824,438 LEnfant Sept. 22, 1931 2,199,086 Weatherford Apr. 30, 1940 2,509,480 Compton May 30, 1959 

